Metro: Star to be offered new deal

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Southampton are believed to be offering Jay Rodriguez a new five-year deal in a bid to fight off Liverpool's advances.

The Reds are said to be targeting the striker after an impressive campaign for the Saints, despite having already snapped up both Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert from the south coast club this summer.

Brendan Rodgers is clearly a big admirer of Southampton, with the Liverpool manager also after defender Dejan Lovren.

But after new Saints boss Ronald Koeman last week told Liverpool in no uncertain terms Lovren is not for sale, he now looks to be moving to secure the services of Rodriguez too, according to the Mail.

The 24-year-old netted 17 goals for his club last season and was set to be named in Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad but for an injury suffered against Manchester City in the closing weeks of the campaign.

Rodriguez still has two years left to run on his current deal, but Koeman is determined to keep the bulk of his squad together having also lost Luke Shaw to Manchester United.